This was the first big event of the new season, and it was one of our best shows ever, featuring guest artists the Backporch Players from South Side Settlement House. It was also one of our most diverse shows, with some authentic Appalachian bluegrass, some heavy metal, several gospel numbers and a dance.

Vocal Coach: Eileen Howard
MC: Jason
Setup Crew: Jason & Heath
Featured Guests: Backporch Players
Bill & Shirley Coleman - guitar & vocals
Juanita -Banjo
Jerry - Guitar
Don - Guitar

Other Acts

Heath - "Until It Sleeps"
Joey and Eileen - "Fire and Rain"
Brenda - Gospel vocals & guitar
Sparkle - "If I Ain't Got You"
Jason - "My Girl"
Aretha - "I Want Jesus to Walk With Me"
Chris f/ Sparkle - "One Day at A Time"
Kevin, Shala'a and Justice - The "Cupid Shuffle" (dance), and "I Did You Wrong" (song)
April f/ Chris - "Let's Stay Together"

Audience - Jeanette, Nathaniel, Daniel, Diamond, Other female child (1), River, Katherine, Faye, Other Adult Males (2)

Adults: 19
Youth: 8
TOTAL: 27

Please keep Dee and Thomas in your prayers!

Two new videos


Hang on Sloopy - Orange Juice performs the OSU classic




November 2007 Open Mic Sampler

I'm three weeks behind on updating!

Rehearsal Week March 17



Talent Show Week March 24

This week featured the triumphant return of three old friends, Mary Hamilton, recovering from shoulder surgery, Rose, recovering from a broken foot, and her granddaughter Briana.

MC: Heath
Judges: Rose, Briana, Mary

Acts:
(songs)
Chris
Vernell
Darrell
Mary
Tereza
Thomas
Dee w/ Gwen and Nana
(other)
Heath - drums
Nana - Comedy/testimony


Sing-Along Week March 31st

SING ALONG
This was a fun week, as we did a combination of old folk/protest songs, hymns and other sing-along favorites, including, Down By the Riverside, We Shall Overcome, Where Have All the Flowers Gone, Kumbayah, Amazing Grace, This Little Light of Mine, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Lift Every Voice and Sing, Amen, and many others. We also featured an original solo by Sparkle, Marilyn & Chris duetting on "Today", Heath leading Hotel California and a gospel solo by Darrell.

Heath
Sparkle
Darryl
Brenda
Gwen
David B
Juan
David W
David E
Vernell
Eileen
Chris
Man Man
Nana
Diamond
Marilyn
+3 more

GUITAR LESSONS -Brandon
Mattie, Matthew, Eric

Total - 17 adults, 5 youth, 22 total

MC: Craig

Setup: Ronnie, Craig

Acts:
Eileen - Amazing Grace
Sparkle - A Woman's Worth
LaToya - His Eye is On the Sparrow
Shala'a, Justice, Diamond - Weak
Brenda & Vernell - (Original Spiritual)
Vernell - gospel blues
Chris - Killing the Blues
Juan - Smoke on the Water
Dee - I Came to Jesus
Heath - Hotel California

Others: - David, Gwen, 2 other adults, ManMan, Daniel, two other children
Adults: 12
Youth: 6
TOTAL: 18

The show started with a bang with Eileen's powerful a capella rendition of Amazing Grace, which began a trend of the evening, as two acts were also performed without accompaniment ("Weak" and "His Eye is on the Sparrow")

I'm late on posting, and wanted to get these in before the new week's events!

TALENT SHOW WEEK -
We had an unusual treat this week when textile artist Iola Simmons came to share her artwork and serve as a guest judge.

MC- Faye

Judges - Iola, Heath, Brenda

Acts -

Heath
Thomas
Vernell
Sparkle
Brena
Juan
Dee

REHEARSAL WEEK

VOCALS
Shala'a, Justice and [Destiny?]
Sparkle
LaToya

GUITAR
Mattie
Matthew

OTHER
Brenda
Vernell

First - Some new videos from "Orange Juice & Friends"



Don't Need You (Orange Juice)



Downfall (Johnny Miracle)

---

This was a good rehearsal week with some strong performances that promise good things for next week.

Vocal Teacher - Eileen
--------
Heath - Hotel California
Sparkle - A Woman's Worth
Shala'a - Weak
Nana - Lean on Me

Guitar Teacher - Brandon
---------
Matthew
Mattie

Performance Coach - Chris
------------
Craig
[girl]

Other Attendees
--------------
[woman]
[man]
Ronnie
Eric
Robert
Justice

Adults: 10
Youth: 7
TOTAL: 17

This was one of our best Open Mic sessions in several months, with some top notch acts, some new and returning faces, and strong youth participation.

Setup Crew: David & Craig
MC: Christian

Nana- Comedy Act
Dee (with Thomas) - Life Story (spoken word)
Drum-off competition (David vs Juan vs Craig vs Shala'a)
Shala'a & Justice - "Weak"
Sparkle - A Woman's Worth
LaToya - song
Chris - "The Water is Wide"
Eileen - "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
David & Craig - instrumental improv

Some of the highlights this week included cousins Shala'a and Justice performing SWV's classic "Weak", Dee's heartfelt spoken word piece, Sparkle's powerful rendition of Alicia Keys' "A Woman's Worth" and a standout performance from professional jazz vocalist Eileen on "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"

Next Week: REHEARSAL

Here are the first two videos from Orange Juice & Friends rock concert:



Orange Juice plays Wolfmother's "Joker and the Thief"



Johnny Miracle does the song he wrote for his mother.

The big news for this week was the ROCK CONCERT ("Orange Juice & Friends"), which was a big success thanks to stellar talent and a team of committed volunteers.

Program:

Chris S- "Mona Lisa"
Chris & Juan - "To Love Somebody"
David, Juan & Chris - "3 O'Clock World", "Beverly Hills"
Johnny Miracle - "Bring it Out", "On Top of the World", "The Downfall"

INTERMISSION

Orange Juice - "The Joker and the Thief", "Satisfaction", "Jet", and seven other songs including three original numbers.

Encore: "Hang On Sloopy"

MC: Craig
Catering: Dee and Gwen
Production: Chris and Eileen
Publicity: Orange Juice, Craig, Rose
Setup: Craig, Chris, Faye and Taz
Security: Taz
Door: Gwen
Sound Engineering: Chris Ciampa

Thanks to these and many others who made the event possible. Videos will be posted shortly.

( More Open Mic News )

David, Juan and I arrived early to rehearse for the upcoming rock concert, and David surprised me by singing his part in a new baritone. Thomas also worked on one of his original songs. Also in attendance, Dee, Rose, Briana, Gwen, David, Sparkle and Craig.

Total Youth: 4
Total Adults:6

TOTAL: 10

Next Week: Competition Week!

Attendance was a little low on this snowy January Monday, but solid performances anchored an enjoyable show.

MC - Briana

Maddie - Piano
Heath- Drums
Juan - Drums
Johnny Miracle - 2 original rap songs
Dee - Stop By the Church
Dee, Rose & Betty - Amazing Grace
Vernell & Brenda - Spiritual
Eileen - My Guy
Chris - Mona Lisa
Thomas - Original song

In the audience - Anzette, Eric, Matthew, Johnna, Gwen

Adults: 12
Youth: 4
TOTAL: 16

We hit the ground running with our first week back in the New Year. In addition to our customary vocal and drum lessons, we also moved the guitar lessons back to the site, and added piano lessons.

Vocal Lessons - Eileen
-------------
Thomas
Dee
Vernell
Chris

Guitar Lessons - Brandon
--------------
Maddie
Matthew

Piano Lessons - David E
-------------
Craig
Briana

Drum Lessons - Juan
------------
Craig

Setup Crew - Briana, David
Vocal Assistant - Dee

Other Attendance
----------------
Rose
Betty
Taz
Mimi
Shala'a
Leona

Adults:11
Youth: 7
TOTAL: 18

These are new videos from the November Talent Competition:


Phil - original song "Pick Your Body Up"


Mimi - "Hero"


Chris - "These Days"

Setup Crew: Briana, Rose, Paul
Refreshments: Gwen, Rhoda, Juan
Vocal Coach: Eileen
Host: D'Angelo

Sparkle - Silent Night
Celina - Amen
Mimi - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Chris - Still of the Evening
Briana & DiXian - Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
DiXian - Drums
Johnny - Sometimes I Feel, On Top of the World
Craig - Jingle Bell Rock
Eileen - Oh Holy Night
Briana - Frosty the Snowman
Paul - Spiritual
Juan - Keyboard Solo

Adults: 10
Youth: 7
TOTAL: 17

This was a nice end to our season, with a small but talented crowd. Please keep Dee Martin in your prayers --she is back in the hospital.

NO OPEN MIC UNTIL JANUARY 7th!

It was cold outside but warm inside as we enjoyed a quiet rehearsal week before next week's Xmas celebration, featuring a jazzed up "Silent Night" by Sparkle, and some smoking hot raps by Johnny Miracle.

Setup Crew: Eileen, Briana, Chris
Refreshments: Dee (turkey salad)
Vocal Coach: Eileen

Adults: Dee, Mimi, Tom, Thomas, Sparkle, Rose, April, Johnny, Eileen, Chris, Sandy
Youth: Juan, Briana

Total: 13

Setup Crew: Craig, Juan, Phil, Heath, Briana, Thomas, Tom
Refreshments: MaryAnn, Sharon
Host: Heath
Judges: Gwen, Cheryl, Tom
First Place: Craig (slide guitar)
Second Place:

Other Acts:
ManMan - Drums
Heath - "Hotel California"
Catherine (with Mike) - "You Are My Sunshine", "Rain, Rain, Go Away"
Cheryl - "Jingle Bells"
Vernell - "Trouble in My Way"
Thomas - "Freaky"
Phillip - "Get Up and Walk"
Mimi - "Silent Night"
MaryAnn - "Proud Mary"
Brenda - "Amazing Grace"
Sparkle - "I'm Going Down"
Dee, with Juan, Chris, Thomas, Vernell, Brenda & Craig - "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus"
Brianna & Rose - "Ring of Fire"
Chris - "To Love Somebody"

Attendance:
Youth: 6
Adults: 23
Total: 29

Even with a cold rainy night, we had good attendance, and were glad to welcome back our old friend Cheryl, who hasn't attended for nearly a year. MaryAnn and Sharon outdid themselves with a great spread of food, including several cakes, and Phillip Funtulis became our all time long-distance champ by driving the three hours from Warren Ohio to share with us his original song "Get Up and Walk". Another popular first-time performer was 5-year old Catherine who melted the hearts of the audience with her performance of two children's favorites.

NEXT WEEK (12/3/07): Rehearsal Week
FOLLOWING WEEK (12/10/07): Christmas Themed Open Mic

THREE WEEK BREAK until end of year.

We had to survive without our vocal teacher extraordinaire this week, but we still had a good session. Chris, Mimi and Brenda filled in to help people go over their songs, and MaryAnn and Sharon brought some much appreciated snacks.

Adults: Brenda, Heath, Thomas, Tom, Rose, Chris, Mimi, Sparkle, MaryAnn, Sharon, Vernell + 3 others
Youth: Craig, Briana

Total: 16 people

This was a well-attended and high energy Open Mic, featuring some of your youngest ever MCs, several emotionally powerful performances, and culminating in an extended gospel jam by the new All People Jam Band.

MCs: Diamond & Gibson

Setup Crew: Craig, Thomas, Tom, Taz, Rose, Briana, Heath, Eileen

Guitar: Chris/Brenda
Drums: Heath/Juan/Thomas
Congas: Craig/Dee
Bass: Vernell

Acts:
Rose & Heath (drums) - "Ring of Fire"
David & Juan - "Beverly Hills"
Beverly - "My Guy"
Nana AKA Aretha - "Summertime"
Heath - Drum Solo
Leona AKA Mimi - "God Bless the Child"
Craig - "We Will Rock You"
Chris - poem "A Statistic of One"
Juan - Drum Solo
Johnny Miracle - original rap song
Dee - gospel song
Dee, Brenda, Craig & Thomas - "Amazing Grace - A Testimony"
Thomas & Heath - original song
All People Jam Band - "Jesus"
Gibson - drum solo
Diamond - "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"

Adults: 20
Youth: 7
TOTAL: 27

Some weeks it all comes together, and this was one of them! Highlights included our debut poetry workshop with award-winning local poet Sharon, Heath's surprisingly accomplished drumwork, and newcomer Vernell on the bass guitar. As we moved into the second half, Thomas improvised a series of up-tempo hard-hitting gospel-funk originals, with the backing of a new version of the All People Jam Band behind him.

Vocal Lessons (with Eileen)
----------------
Heath
Dee
Vernell
Brenda

Poetry (with Sharon)
---------
Briana
Rose
Rhonda


Jam Band (with Chris)
-------------
Juan/Heath/Thomas - Drums
Vernell/Heath - Bass
Craig - conga and vocals
Chris - guitar and vocals
Brenda - guitar and vocals
Thomas - vocals
Dee - vocals

Other Audience Members
-----------
Mary H, MaryAnn + 1 other


Adults: 12
Youth: 3

TOTAL: 15
Total Adults:

Fifth Mondays are always a bit unpredictable, but we had a good solid crowd participate in what was chiefly a singalong. Eileen was sick, so Sam Ciampa filled in with lessons.

Adults: Brenda, Thomas, Tom, Gwen, Dee, David, MaryAnn, Sharon, Sam, Chris, Johnny Miracle, Jonna, Mimi, Heath, Nana + 4 others.
Youth: Juan, Briana, Craig, Justice, Gibson + 3 others
Total: around 26

Songs: Amazing Grace, the Gambler, Swing Down Chariot, Hotel California, Down By the Riverside, Wade in the Water, Proud Mary + others.